Sapcote Companion Set in Charcoal Rattan

Is the angled set-up actually different from a straight bench?

Yes. On a straight Jack-and-Jill bench, both of you face the garden, both of you stare straight ahead, and after twenty minutes one of you is twisting your neck to hold a conversation. We designed this set differently.

The two chairs sit at an angle and meet across the table, so you naturally turn toward each other when you talk and your mug or glass sits within reach on the tempered glass top rather than balanced on a chair arm. The angled layout is the reason customers buy a companion set instead of two folding chairs and a side table from the shed: this set is set up for morning coffee or an evening drink for two, not a chair pulled in from inside.

Will it fit a small patio or balcony?

Usually yes. The shallow V-shape sits in a footprint of roughly two metres by one metre, with clearance behind each chair for walking past. Mark the footprint out with masking tape on the slabs first if your space is tight, that's usually enough to confirm the fit before you order.

Compared with a 4-seater dining set, this companion footprint frees up the rest of a small patio for planters, a path, or a back-door swing. The scale suits a balcony, a sun-trap corner, or a terraced courtyard where a larger set would crowd the space.

Is it really all-weather, no cover needed?

Yes. The frame is aluminium, which cannot rust, and we use a 0.2mm powder coating, two to three times thicker than what most aluminium garden furniture carries, so the finish survives wet winters and freezing nights without delaminating. We also use UV-stabilised synthetic rattan, which won't fade, rot or go brittle when left outside year-round. The 5mm tempered safety glass top handles British frosts that crack ordinary glass.

This means the structure is fully weatherproof and doesn't need a cover or storage, so it saves you the hassle and the £50 to £100 a cover would cost. In our experience, customers come back ten or fifteen years later saying their rattan is just as good as when they first bought it.

How does this compare to other companion sets at this price?

Cheaper companion sets at this size hide a steel frame under the weave that rusts at the joints and bolt holes within a couple of wet winters, and they pair it with PVC rattan that goes brittle in the sun. You'd be back shopping for a replacement set inside three years, and there'll be orange streaks across your paving in the meantime.

Considering a brand-name companion set at £1,000 or more? You'd be paying mainly for the marketing and the polished website. The actual furniture is almost exactly the same as ours: aluminium frame, UV-stabilised rattan, 5mm tempered glass. We design our own Sapcote range and sell it direct from our family-run Leicestershire showroom since 2001, without the excessive markup of big name brands.

Is this the same colour if the description calls it "dark grey"?

The listing says Charcoal, and you may see it described as a darker grey tone in the original product description. In practice, it's a contemporary mid-to-dark grey rattan that pairs well with modern paving and natural stone. Our showroom photos are taken in real light, so they're the most reliable guide if you're trying to match existing slabs.

Can I leave the Sapcote Companion Set outside all year round?

The frame and rattan can stay outside all year round - aluminium cannot rust, and the HDPE weave is UV-stabilised, so no cover is needed. Cushions are the only part that needs care: store them away when you're not using the set, and they'll last years.

What's the difference between this and cheaper companion sets?

The frame material is the biggest difference. Cheaper companion sets often hide a steel frame under the rattan, and steel rusts from the inside out through joints and bolt holes. This set uses an aluminium frame which cannot rust, plus UV-stabilised HDPE rattan that will not fade, split, or crack. In our experience, that combination is good for well over 10 years with basic cushion care.

Do I need a cover for winter?

No cover is needed for protection - the aluminium frame cannot rust and the HDPE rattan is UV-stabilised, so the structure stays outside all year round. A cover is only worth considering if you want to keep leaves and bird mess off between uses. What matters more is cushion care - store them away when you're not using the set.

Is the angled table actually useful, or just a design detail?

It's genuinely useful. The angled layout turns you towards each other, which makes conversation easier than sitting straight ahead on a bench. Our customers tell us this is why companion sets get used more often for morning coffee or an evening drink - it feels like a dedicated two-person spot, not spare seating.

Is the glass safe?

The table top is 5mm tempered safety glass, which handles temperature changes better than standard glass. If it ever took a heavy impact, tempered glass is designed to crumble into small, blunt pieces rather than sharp shards.

How much assembly is required?

None at all. The whole set, including the middle table section, arrives fully assembled. Unbox it, set it out, and you're ready.

Can I see this set in person before I buy?

You're welcome to visit our showroom at Sapcote Garden Centre in Leicestershire. Sitting on a set and seeing the Charcoal colour in natural light is the quickest way to feel confident you've chosen the right one. Our helpful and knowledgeable team is there 7 days a week.

Delivery is included in the price, 3-7 working days to mainland UK. Your furniture is delivered on pallets via our courier, and we'll email you a timed delivery window so you're not waiting around all day.

Worth knowing: our courier delivers to the kerbside or driveway, they won't take items around the back of the house, and the pallet and boxes are left with you. If you'd prefer a white-glove delivery with set-up and rubbish taken away, get in touch and we can usually help.

We dispatch from our Leicestershire garden centre. "In stock" means we have it here, ready to send, not drop-shipped from a third-party warehouse.

Returns: if you're not happy, let us know within 7 days and you can return it within 30 days for a refund (minus return delivery costs). The furniture must be in its original condition and packaging, and we'll arrange the collection with you.